GOP creating uncertainty in business climate

Since President Obama took office in 2009, Republican politicians have opposed his economic policies. Their charge? His policies don't provide the certainty that businesses need to invest and grow.

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seacoastonline.com

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Posted Jan. 29, 2013 at 2:00 AM

Posted Jan. 29, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

Jan. 27 — To the Editor:

Since President Obama took office in 2009, Republican politicians have opposed his economic policies. Their charge? His policies don't provide the certainty that businesses need to invest and grow.

So you would think that Republicans in Congress would promote such certainty. Sadly, they have done the exact opposite.

For example, in the summer of 2011, they threatened to force the country to default on its debt unless President Obama and congressional Democrats agreed to deep spending cuts.

Egged on by their tea party wing, they were ready to cause a global economic catastrophe — which would have happened if a default occurred — to get their way. A last-minute deal narrowly averted default, but the country's credit rating took a hit when Standard & Poor's lowered the government bond rating for the first time ever.

This episode actually resulted in additional national debt, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Just recently, congressional Republicans threatened to shut down the federal government in late March, when current funding authority runs out.

They did the same thing in April 2011, when they almost shut down the government over funding for Planned Parenthood.

GOP brinksmanship is irresponsible and reckless, creating the uncertainty that they claim to oppose. Voters should remember this whenever they hear a Republican politician say businesses need certainty.